Bill Gates is known for his passion for reading and through his personal blog he has been sharing different literary recommendations, forming four books that he considers are essential for anyone.
According to Gates, These books explore why we dedicate our lives to helping others, the difficulties that can arise, and why it’s important to do it anyway.. Below, we present the details of each of these books and the reasons why the Microsoft co-founder recommends them.
“The Women” is a historical fiction narrative that focuses on the Vietnam War. The book follows the story of Frances McGrath, a US Army nurse, and his traumatic journey through the war conflict while trying to return home in the middle of a country immersed in protests and with a strong pro-peace sentiment.
Bill Gates is deeply moved by this novel. Although he has read and seen a lot about the Vietnam War, he says “The Women” offered him a new perspective. The philanthropist highlights the importance of women, especially front-line nurses, in this war, something he considers revealing and inspiring.
Through Frances McGrath’s story, Gates highlights the critical role so many women played, saving countless lives and facing extraordinary challenges.
“Infectious Generosity”written by Chris Anderson, the director of TED conferences, is a book that seeks to redefine generosity in the digital age. Anderson argues that the world needs to broaden its definition of generosity, not limiting it to monetary donations, but to include time, skills and compassion.
Bill Gates recommends this book especially to those who want to create a more equitable world, but don’t know where to start. According to him, Anderson explores how the Internet can amplify the impact of generosity, offering a blueprint for any person, government, or business to promote more generosity.
By reading “Contagious Generosity,” Gates hopes readers will be inspired to help those in need in various ways, contributing to a more just and compassionate world.
In “Brave New Words,” Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, addresses the topic of artificial intelligence and its impact on education. Khan argues that AI has the potential to radically transform education, improving student outcomes and teacher experiences.
Bill Gates not only read this book for entertainment, but he also financially supports Khan Academy. For him, Sal Khan offers a sharp analysis on the future of education, explaining how AI can close the educational gap and provide affordable, personalized tutoring to meet the needs of every student in the world.
“How to Know a Person,” written by David Brooks, is a guide to improving human communication and learning to connect deeply with others. Brooks maintains that social and conversation skills are not just innate traits, but can be learned and improved.
For Bill Gates, this book goes beyond being a simple guide to having better conversations. On his recommendation, mentions that the author offers practical tips for exercising what Brooks calls “loud listening,” a concept that helps people feel heard and valued.
“It’s more than a guide to better conversations; “It is a model for a more connected and human way of life,” says the businessman.
